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A Summary of Our Impact - references

Around 9% of 4-5 year olds are obese and this percentage doubles to around 19% for 10-11 year olds. Obesity prevalence for children living in the most deprived areas is double that of those living in the least deprived areas.[1]

12[2] - 20[3]% of children entitled to free school meals don’t take up that entitlement.

Pupils in FFL schools eat around one third more fruit and vegetables than pupils in comparison schools, and significantly more fruit and vegetables at home (UWE, 2015[4]).

Pupils in FFL schools are twice as likely to eat five a day and a third less likely to eat no fruit or vegetables than pupils in comparison schools (UWE, 2015).

Free school meal take up increased by an average of 13 percentage points over two years in Food for Life schools (UWE, 2011[5]).

Creating a strong social and local economic return on investment is a top priority for local authorities who have had to make £20bn in cuts between 2010-2015[6] and are subsequently reliant on business rate retention.

The public sector in England spends £1.2bn every year on food and drink. Up to £600m of this is on imported produce, £400m of which could be sourced from within the UK[7].

There is more than £3 in social return on every £1 invested in Food for Life Catering Mark menus, with most of the benefit experienced by local businesses and local employees (nef, 2011[8]). New research focusing on Food for Life multi-setting programmes demonstrates a social return of £4.40 for every £1 invested (UWE, 2015).

Food for Life Catering Mark provides a significant boost to the British producers; annual spend on farm assured meat that meets British production standards in Catering Mark certified menus is £40m[9].

Food and farming is responsible for one fifth of UK climate impact[10]

If ALL primary schools in England were Food for Life schools, ONE MILLION more children would eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day [11]

25% of children aged 5-10 eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day. (Health Survey for England, 2014, link, 24% of boys and girls at age 5-7, 26% of boys at age 6-10, 27% of girls at age 6-10, 25.25% is the average across these age groups.)

There are 4. 2 million (4,233,515) pupils (aged 4-10) enrolled in statefunded and independent primary schools in England. (DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics: January 2015, Data Table 1a, link)

Therefore 1,068,962 primary school children eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day. (This is 25.25% of 4,233,515.)

Pupils in FFL schools are twice as likely to eat five a day and a third less likely to eat no fruit or vegetables than pupils in comparison schools.

The Soil Association

The Soil Association is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use.